Camden has the stamina for Southern National success

Channel 4 cameras will be in Sussex on Sunday to cover the Southern National. Stamina will be the order of the day with the going described as heavy for the three and a half mile marathon trip.

Fontwell’s figure of eight course does not suit every runner but Oliver Sherwood’s Camden has won twice here from three starts. He was just beaten by Buck’s Bond here in April but enjoys a healthy weight advantage this time.

Buck’s Bond has failed to complete the course in two subsequent outings and Paul Nicholls’ new stable number two Nick Scholfield will have his work cut out getting him safely round. He looked well in command when going clear between the last two in April but almost through it away in the closing stages when stopping to a walk.

Emperor’s Choice is set to carry top weight of 11st 12lb and that looks like being difficult in this ground. The Venetia Williams trained gelding won three on the bounce last year before being upped in class at the Cheltenham festival.

He put in an error-strewn round of jumping that day and is better judged in a gutsy win in the Surrey National in February. He defied 11st 10lb that day in heavy ground and holds David Pipe’s Alderluck on that form.

Pettifour is reaching the veteran stage at the age of eleven but could still be involved in the shake up here. Although he has not won since 2009, he did plug on into a distant second in the Sussex National won by Well Refreshed in January.

Boyfromnowhere has looked very one-paced but comes from the stable of Rebecca Curtis who is very adept at placing her horses. Adrenalin Flight has only won on good ground previously and the prevailing conditions could find him out.

Swincombe Rock was having his first race for almost a year when unseating his rider behind Standing Ovation and may still need this. The Clyda River stumbled badly after jumping the first in the same race and that effectively ended his hopes.